Electrical movement for timekeepers



ELECTRICAL MOVEMENT FOR TIMEKEEPERS Filed Dec. 30, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wwffrllm% Jan. 31, 1950 F. MARTI 2,495,858

ELECTRICAL MOVEMENT FOR TIMEEEEPEES Filed Dec. 50, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 31, 1950 ELECTRICAL MOVEMENT FOR TIMEKEEPERS Fritz Marti, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland Application December 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,522 In Switzerland May 29, 1941 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires May 29, 1961 7 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical movements for time-keepers.

An object of the invention is to provide in the motor a permanent magnet between the poles of which a solenoid is moved periodically fed with direct current by a switch the contacts of which execute the same movements as the solenoid.

Another object is to arrange the contact parts of this switch in such a way that they control at the same time mechanically the drive mechanism for the wheels.

A still further object is to omit electromagnets commonly used in these electrical movements and which give rise to sparks at break.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the following description proceeds, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the general arrangement of an electric movement according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a detail of a second embodiment which is only partially shown.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate reciprocal positions of the contacting device and the drive mechanism for the wheels of the second embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I designates a small annular permanent magnet having an air gap 2 separating the poles from each other 'and in which a solenoid 3 is moved the turns 4 of which are wound on a frame 5 of non-magnetic material. This frame 5 is carried by an arm of a lever 6 keyed to an axle 'I. The other arm of this lever 6 carries a counterweight 8 provided with screws 9 serving to adjust equilibrium around the pivots I2 of the axle 'I of the whole set formed by the solenoid 3, the lever 6 and the counterweight 8. This set forms the armature of the motor of the electrical movement and, at the same time, the balance of the latter. The regulator `of the movement comprises, besides this balance, the balance spring I one end of which is fixed to the axle 'I. while the other end is engaged in an insulated holder II of the frame. The balance spring I il can be acted upon by means of an index, not shown, of well-known structure and operation.

One end of the winding of the solenoid is electrically connected to the lever 6, while the other is connected to a contact carrying member I3 fixed to lever 6 but insulated with regard to the latter. This contact carrying member ends in an inclined plane I4 cooperating with the end of a three-armed contact lever I5, the other slightly bent end of which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel I6. This contact lever I is pivoted on the end of an arm I1 pivoted at I8 which 2 normally rests on a stop I9 whereupon it is pressed by a spring '20. This contact lever`l5 may thus execute two movements. It may at first be lifted by the inclined plane I4 moving from left to right, during which movement the lever l5swings about the center i8. it may also oscillate about its proper pivoting axle 22 for being disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel I6 every time its end is acted upon from right to left by the end of the contact carrying member I3. In this latter case the contact of the end of lever I5 with the member I3 is not conducting since the lever I5 carries a small,

insulating plate 23 which alone is touched by the member I3 during the movement of the latter from right to left.

The ratchet wheel 'I6 forms also the fourth wheel of the illustrated movement. Therefore,

its axle carries a hand 24 running over a scale 25l and carrying out one revolution per minute. This axle is connected with the other hands of the movement by means of a gearing not shown.

The illustrated mechanism works as follows: One pole of a battery 26 which may be of any marketable type used for pocket lamps is connected to the spring 2D and the contact lever I5, while the other end is connected to the regulator (balance'spring I0, axle l, frame 5, lever 6 and solenoid 3) which is insulated from the remainingfpartof the movement. Since the solenoid 3, on the one hand, is connected to the regulator end, on the other hand, to the insulated contact carrying member I3, its circuit is closed when the lever I5 is supported on the inclined plane I4 lof this contact carrying member I3. This is the rest position of the parts of the motor device.A It is obtained by' anadequate adjustment of the relative position of the balance spring I0 and the balance (frame 5, lever 6 and solenoid 3) on the axle 1. In this position, the solenoid lies scarcely in the air gap 2 ofthe permanent magnet I. The contact lever I5 and the insulated contact I3 are in a position to close the feed circuit of the solenoid 3. f

In this rest position the solenoid 3 is scarcely in the air gap of the permanent magnet so that, as soon as the movement is put in circuit, the solenoid is immediately displaced in the eld of the magnet, it oscillates around the axis of the axle 1 so that the inclined plane I4 lifts the lever I5 and the ratchet wheel I6 is advanced by one tooth and the hand 24 by half a second. At the moment when this operation is completed, the end of lever I5 leaves the upper edge of the inclined plane and interrupts the contact and thev However,l

solenoid is then entirely in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet. The kinetic energy stored in the balance causes the latter to continue its movement so that in the solenoid counter-E. M. F. is produced which gives rise to a current of inverse direction to that which caused the initial movement when the circuit oi the solenoid was closed. Therefore, sparks cannot occur. The movement of the balance being completed and the bala-nce spring tightened in one direction, the travel in the, other direction is executed and brings the end of member I3 into contact with the insulating plate 23 of the lever l5. However, the contact is without influence on the electric condition of the solenoid, the return motion of which is only due to the iniluence of the return eiect of the balance spring i@ which has been tightened by the motion provoked by the impulse.

Apart from the purely electrical advantages which have been mentioned above, the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is further advantageous in that all of the parts forming the motor device and regulator are on the same axle which can easily be dimensioned to carry a heavy balance beating the half-seconds and which is easily adjustable. Then the total work is done during the impulse period and the arrangement of the parts closing the circuit (member I3. and lever I) is such that the Contact is continuously cleaned on service.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is only distinguished from the preceding electrical movement by the contacting and driving device for the wheels. This latter has a lever pivoted at 3! and carrying on its free end an axle 32 around which oscillate a three-armed lever 33 and a bent pusher 34 the point or beak of which is in engagement with a ratchet wheel i6 being identical to and serving the same purpose as the wheel IE in Fig. 1. A spring 35 fixed to the frame ends in a pallet 36 of suiiicient width to press both the lever 33 and the pusher 34 against a pin 3'1 xed to the frame of the movement.

One of the arms, 38, of lever- 33 extends in the direction of the regulator (lever B, counterweight 8, frame 5) and carries on its lower end a plate 39v of insulating material which cooperates, as the remaining part of this end of the arm, with a stop 40 fixed to the regulator and insulated with regard to the latter by av sleeve 4.1, but in electric conneotionwith the solenoid 3.

The illustrated contacting anddriving a motor set for the wheels works as fol-lows:

In Fig. 2- the diierent parts are in their rest position. The electric connections being the same as in the preceding example, and the stop lllv being in contact with the lower end of the arm 38 current ows through the solenoid 3 as soon as the circuit of the battery is closed and on oscillation of the balance takes place in the direction of the arrow 42. The different parts then take by little and little the position illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein it is shown how the stop 40 causes the lever 33 to tilt and to bear against the pin 31'. The lever 3l! oscillates around its axis 3l and lifts the pusher 34 the point or beak of which advances the wheel I6 by one tooth. IThe stop 4c having passed the arm 38, the spring 35 brings the whole back into rest position. The pusher 34 then oscillates around the axle 32 when trailed over a tooth of the wheel I6.

On return movement in the direction of the arrow 43, the stop 40 acts upon the diierent parts in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Lever 33 acted upon from the side of the insulated plate 39, then oscillates around the axle 32 Without influencing the position of the bent pusher 34.

While I have described and illustrated two embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to limit unnecessarily the scope of this invention, but reserve the right to make such modifications and rearrangements of the several parts as may come within ther purview of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. In an electrical movement for time-keepers, wheels, a permanent magnet, a solenoid arranged to move between the poles of said permanent iagnet, a lever, an oscillating mechanism pivoted on said lever and in drive connection with said wheels, a switch electrically connected to said solenoid to feed the latter with direct current, said switch including contacts one of which is rmly connected with said solenoid, the other Contact being provided 0n said oscillating mechanism organised to be oscillated on said former contact striking against said contact on the oscillating mechanism.

2. In an electrical movement for time-keepers, wheels, a permanent magnet, a balance piece, a solenoid mounted on said balance piece to move between the poles of said permanent magnet, a lever, an oscillating mechanism pivoted on said lever and a drive connection with said wheels, a switch electrically connected to said solenoid -to feed the latter with direct current, said switch including contacts one of which is carried by said balance piece electrically insulated from the latter, the other contact being provided on said oscillating mechanism organised to be oscillated on said former contact striking against said contact on the oscillating n-iechansm.

3. In an electrical movement .for time-keepers, wheels, a driving device in drive connection with said wheels andcomprising a permanent magnet, a balance, piece, a solenoid mounted on said balal'ice Piece to move. between the poles of said permanent magnet, a switchelectricallv connected to said solenoid to. feed the latter with direct current, said switch including, cooperating contacts one of which is carried by saidy balance piece electrically ,insulated from the latter, and a three-armed lever carrying the other of said contacts and being organised to be 4oscillated on said insulated Contact striking against said other contact and having two rotating axes,y the one for actuating said wheels and the other for the return movement of said solenoid,

4. In an electrical movement for time-keepers, wheels, a driving device in drive connection with said Wheels and comprising a permanent magnet, a balance piece, a Solenoid mounted on said balance piece to move between the poles o i said permanent magnet, a switch electrically connected to said solenoid to feed the latter with direct current, said switch including contacts one of which is carried by saidV balance piece electrically insulated from the latter, these. contacts being organised to drive mechanically said driving device, the latter further comprising a lever, a three-armed lever pivoted on the free end ol said lever` and carrying the other of said contacts, a bent pusher pivotedV on Vthe free end o said lever around the same axis as said threearmed lever, and in engagement with .one ol said wheels. 1 t

5. In an electrical movement for time-keepers,

wheels, a driving device in driveconnection withv said wheels and comprising a permanent, magnet, a balance piece, a solenoid mounted on said balance piece to move between the poles of said permanent magnet, a switch electrically connected to said solenoid to feed the latter with direct current, said switch including contacts one of which is carried by said balance piece electrically insulated from the latter, these contacts being organised to drive mechanically said driving device, the latter further comprising a lever, a three-armed lever pivoted on the free end of said lever and carrying the other of said contacts, a bent pusher pivoted on the free end of said lever around the same axis as said threearmed lever, and in engagement with one of said Wheels, and a return spring common to said three-armed lever and said bent pusher.

6, In an electrical movement for time-keepers, Wheels, a driving device in drive connection with said wheels and comprising a permanent magnet, a balance piece, a solenoid mounted on said balance piece to move between the poles of said permanent magnet, a switch electrically connected to said solenoid to feed the latter with direct current, said switch including contacts one of which is carried by said balance piece electrically insulated from the latter, these contaets being organised to drive mechanically said driving device, a frame, ra ratchet wheel, a feed circuit for said solenoid, an axle carrying said balance piece, a contact lever in engagement with said ratchet Wheel and arranged to be lifted by said insulated contact at each impulse of said solenoid in order to advance said ratchet wheel by an amount corresponding to the path of said contact lever, a balance spring fixed at one end to said frame and at the other end to said axle so that in the rest position of said balance spring said solenoid is scarcely in the air gap of said permanent magnet, said contact lever and said insulated contact then being in position closing said feed circuit.

7. In an electrical movement for time-keepers, Wheels, a driving device in drive connection with said wheels and comprising a permanent magnet, a balance piece, a solenoid mounted on said balance piece to move between the poles of said permanent magnet, a switch electrically connected to said solenoid to feed the latter with direct current, said switch including contacts one of which is carried by said balance piece electrically insulated from the latter, these contacts being organised to drive mechanically said driving device, a frame, an arm pivoted on said frame, a ratchet wheel, a feed circuit for said solenoid, an axle carrying said balance piece, a Contact lever pivoted on the free end of said arm, a spring arranged to press said contact lever upon said insulated contact, said contact lever being in engagement With said ratchet Wheel and arranged to be lifted by said insulated contact at each impulse of said solenoid in order to advance said ratchet Wheel by an amount corresponding to the path of said contact lever, a balance spring xed at one end to said frame and at the other end to said axle so that in the rest position of said balance spring said solenoid is scarcely in the air gap of said permanent magnet, said contact lever and said insulated contact then being in position closing said feed circuit.

FRITZ MARTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,465,081 Holden Aug. 14, 1923 1,585,319 Tupper May 18, 1926 

